Karina Pandya

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Thirty-Nine and Fine: Mini's Birthday Bash

Mini was a cat who had seen it all. A sleek and graceful calico with a taste of elegance, she had a regal air about her and always carried herself with quiet dignity. She had a spark of adventure and a touch of mystery, all with a lot of sass. She just couldn't believe it as she stretched on the cosy rug in her apartment – in the sunlit living room; she was turning 39 today, a dream only few cats had! However, she refused to spend this birthday alone. She had three wonderful friends – Bunty, Babli and Prince Goldie- with whom she could share her day. These felines had been by her side through thick and thin, and they were invited to come over to celebrate with her. The first one to arrive was Bunty – a lively black and white cat who resembled Hitler. She loved to talk about anything and everything. There was a constant twinkle in her eyes; she was always on the lookout for something new to explore. She had an infectious energy, and wherever she we...

Through the Lens of Space: A Review of the documentary 'The Dirty Sky' by O.P. Srivastava

Directed by: O.P. Srivastava Produced by Usha Srivastava of Reelismfilms Delving into a critical issue mankind faces – space debris and its impact on Earth – The Dirty Sky is a documentary that recently had a screening on February 25th, 2025, at the Little Theatre, NCPA, organised by The Cinema Collective. Offering a visually appealing and compelling, well-researched narrative, the documentary sheds light on the threats posed by the accumulation of defunct satellites, space junk, and other fragments orbiting the Earth. All of these pose risks to future space missions and life on Earth. Documenting past collisions, near misses, and rising concerns over commercial mega-constellations such as Starlink, The Dirty Sky also highlights the risks faced by civilian and military satellites. The documentary addresses topics such as the geopolitical space race, delays in space launches, and the pressing and urgent need for Collision Avoidance Measures (CAMs). At i...

The Power of Spoken Word: Why Poetry Should Be Heard, Not Just Read

Poetry has long been rooted in oral tradition, predating written language by millennia. In its early forms, it served as a vital tool for preserving history, legends, and knowledge. Rhythm, rhyme, and repetition were integral to its recitation, making it both memorable and meaningful. Early poetry often took the shape of epic narratives, hymns, chants, and ballads—many deeply intertwined with religion and philosophy. The late 20th century saw a resurgence of spoken word and slam poetry, revitalizing poetry as a live, performative art. With a potent mix of rhythm, rhyme, and impassioned delivery, spoken word poetry creates an electrifying experience, connecting with audiences in ways that the written word alone cannot. As the digital age exploded, spoken word found its place at the forefront of cultural conversations. In India, this wave of spoken word has also gained significant momentum. Poets across the country have used the form to address a broad range of issues—from mental h...

The Open Mic That Changed Everything

Starting as a joke—an offhand comment during their weekend hangouts at the local coffee shops—the five of them decided to perform at an open mic that was only meant for them. It was Maya, the quiet one with a penchant for writing poetry that no one ever read, who had casually suggested this activity just for fun. “You know, we all have different talents, but what would happen if we got together to perform our open mic at the coffee shop?” Bursting into laughter, her friends gazed at one another after Maya suggested this. The group was a mix of five different personalities – Aarav , who was the spontaneous one and was always up for anything; Sanya – the perfectionist who couldn’t even sing in the shower without rehearsing, Arjun – the jokestar who’d never been seen without his guitar; and Shruti , – the performer who always had a bold idea brewing. “Yeah, sure, let’s all embarrass ourselves publicly”, Aarav t...

The Potluck Reunion

It had been four years since the six had been in the same room. Life, as it does, has swept each one in a different direction – new jobs, new relationships, new cities, and the inevitable time barriers that distance imposes. So when they all were in the same city, and Mia had suggested a potluck dinner, everyone immediately agreed that this idea of gathering together for dinner over laughter, memories and fun was the perfect excuse to reconnect. They chose Mia’s apartment. It was a cosy one-bedroom-hall apartment with soft pink-coloured walls and a spacious kitchen – a place that she had dreamed of having but only recently could afford. The preparations for the evening had begun one day prior, with Mia preparing hot chocolate by melting two rather large chocolate bars, which curdled up to make one of the richest and creamiest hot chocolate mixes. This was the only preparation to be made as all friends had suggested that they would all bring one dish for dinner. ...

The Misadventures of Maira and her Unlucky Love Life

Maira was one of those girls who was a self-proclaimed romantic. She was dreamy and romantic. She imagined perfect dates and soul mate connections. She valued memories and photographs, but who was there to cherish these with other than her friends? She was emotional, expressive, and very affectionate. Following romantic idealism, she had high expectations of love and was poetic and passionate. However, one thing was constant: she was always hopeful. She adored love stories – whether it was the tragical Romeo and Juliet or a whimsical rom-com. However, her life was less of a meet cute type of guy and more of the meet awkward guy, and then somehow disaster follows. It all started in high school when Maira had finally found someone who she liked. His name was Raj and he was tall, dark and handsome; a cliché wrapped up in one person. Unfortunately, Maira’s attempts at confessing her feelings towards him were rather lame and pathetic....